By

Aditya Singh

DEFINITION

Signaling System 7 (SS7) is an

architecture for performing out-of-band
signaling
in support of the call-establishment,
billing, routing, and informationexchange
functions of the public switched
telephone network (PSTN). It identifies
functions to be performed by a
signaling-system network and a protocol
to enable
their performance.

CONTENTS

Types of Signaling
SS7 Signaling
SS7 Protocol
Architecture
SS7 Network
Architecture
Basic Call Setup
SS7 Applications
SS7/IP Inter-working

TYPES OF SIGNALING
Signaling in Telecommunications
Network
Channel Associated Signaling (CAS)
Common Channel Signaling (CCS)

Signaling System Number

7(SS7) is a form of
Common Channel

Channel Associated Signaling (CAS)

Used for In-Band Signaling
Signaling is transmitted in the same
frequency band as used by voice.
Voice path is established when the call
setup is complete, using the same path
that the call setup signals used.

Common Channel Signaling (CCS)

Out of Band signaling
Employs separate, dedicated path for signaling.
Voice trunks are used only when a connection is
established, not before.
Faster Call Setup.

Voice Trunks
Switch
A

Switch
B

Signaling Link

Advantage of CCS over CAS

oFaster call setup
oNo interference between signaling tones by
network and frequency of human speech pattern.
oGreater Trunking Efficiency: CCS has shorter call
set up and tear down times that result in less call
holding time, thereby reducing the traffic on the
network.
oInformation Transfer: CCS allows the transfer of
additional information along with the signaling
traffic providing facilities such as caller
identification and voice or data identification

SS7 Principle
Out of band Signaling
Higher Signaling data rates (56Kbps & 64
Kbps)
Signaling traffic is bursty and of short
duration, hence operates in connectionless
mode using packet switching
Variable length signal units with maximum
size limitation
Optimum use of bandwidth
Reliability and flexibility

SS7 Protocol Stack

OSI

SS7

Protocols
Message Transfer Part (MTP Level 1) Physical
Provides an interface to the actual physical
channel over which communication takes
place
CCITT recommends 64Kbps transmission
whereas ANSI recommends 56 Kbps

Protocols
MTP Level 2 (Data Link)
Ensures accurate end-to-end transmission of a
message across a signaling link
Variable Length Packet Messages are defined here
Implements flow control, message sequence
validation, error checking and message
retransmission
Monitor links and reports their status
Test links before allowing their use

Protocols
MTP Level 3 (Network)
Message routing between signaling points in
the SS7 network
Signaling network management that provides
traffic, links and routing management, as well as
congestion (flow) control
Re-routes traffic away from failed links and
signaling points, controls traffic when congestion
occurs

Protocols
Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)
Provides connectionless and connection-oriented
network services
Provides global title translation (GTT) capabilities
above MTP level 3; translates numbers to DPCs and
subsystem numbers
Provides more detailed addressing information
than MTPs
Used as transport layer for TCAP (Transaction
capabilities applications part) based services

Protocols
Transaction Capabilities Applications Part
(TCAP)
Exchange of non-circuit related data
Between applications across the SS7 network
Using the SCCP service
Queries and responses sent between Signaling
Switching Point (SSPs) and Signaling Control Point
(SCPs)
Sends and receives database information
Credit card validation

Protocols
Telephone User Part (TUP)

Basic call setup and tear down.In many countries,

ISUP has replaced TUP for call management

ISDN User Part (ISUP)

Necessary messaging for setup and tear down of all

circuits (voice and digital)
Messages are sent from a switch, to the switch
where the next circuit connection is required
Call circuits are identified using circuit identification
code (CIC)

SS7 Networks

STP

STP
STP

STP

STP

SS7 Components

Signaling transfer point (STP)

STPs are packet switches, and act like routers in
the SS7 network.
Routes each incoming message to an outgoing
signaling link, based on routing information
contained in the SS#7 message and a pre-defined
route table
Does not offer termination services
STPs are paired to ensure redundancy
There are three levels of STPs:
National Signal Transfer Point
International Signal Transfer Point
Gateway Signal Transfer Point

Service control point (SCP)

An SCP is usually a computer used as a front end to a database
system.
It is an interface to application-specific databases.
The address of an SCP is a point code, and the address of the
database it interfaces with is a subsystem number.
The database is an application entity which is accessed via the
TCAP protocol.
Databases that provides information necessary for advanced call
processing capabilities
Accepts a query for information from a subsystem at another
node
Used by STP to perform a function called global title translation

Databases Accessible via SCP

HLR

Home Location Used in cellular networks to

Register
store subscriber information.

LNP

Local Number Allows people to change

Portability
service providers but keep
their same telephone number

OSS

Operation
Support
System

VLR

Visitor Location Used when a cell phone is not

Register
recognized by the mobile
switching center (MSC).

Associated
with
remote
maintenance
center
for
monitoring and managing SS7
and voice networks.

SS7 Link Types

SS7 Link Types

A
(access)

link Connects signaling end point (SCP or SSP)

to STP

B
(bridge)

link Connects an STP to another STP; typically,

a quad of B links interconnect peer (or
primary) STPs (STPs from a network
connect to STPs of another network)

C link (cross)

Connects
STPs
performing
identical
functions, forming a mated pair (for greater
reliability)

D
link Connects a secondary (local or regional)
(diagonal)
STP pair to a primary (inter-network
gateway) STP pair in a quad-link
configuration; the distinction between B
and D links is arbitrary
E
link Connects an SSP to an alternate STP
(extended)
F
(fully

link Connects two signaling end points (SSPs

and SCPs) in the same local network

What goes over Signaling Link

3 Types of SUs are:
Message signal units(MSUs)
-Carries signaling associated with call setup &
teardown, database query and response and SS7
network input
Link status signal units(LSSUs)
-Inform the far end about the changes in status of
link
-Message length can be 1 or 2 bytes
Fill-in signal units(FISUs)
-Fill the gaps between MSU and LSSU messages
-Sent only when the buffer is empty, to keep the
signaling link active
-Facilitate in constant monitoring of link quality.

ISUP Messages
Initial address message (IAM): contains all necessary
information for a switch to establish a connection
Address complete message (ACM): acknowledge to IAM;
the required circuit is reserved and the phone is ringing
(ring back tone)
Answer message (ANM): occurs when the called party
picks up the phone
Release (REL): sent by the switch sensing that the phone
hung up
Release complete (RLC): each exchange that receives REL,
sends an RLC message back (this acknowledges receipt of
REL)

Basic Call Setup Example

15

6,10

13
9

Implementation of SS7 in GSM

radio
subsystem
MS

network and switching

subsystem

MS

ISDN
PSTN
MSC

Um
BTS

Abis
BSC

EIR
SS7

BTS

BSS

HLR

VLR

BTS
BTS

Fixed partner networks

BSC
A

MSC
IWF

ISDN
PSTN
PDN

Applications
Prepaid Calling
Local

Number
Portability (LNP)
Global Roaming
International Callback
Virtual Office
Internet Call Waiting/
Caller ID
Least Cost Routing
Toll Bypass

Unified

Messaging
800
/ Free Phone
Services
Short
Message
Service (SMS)
Tele-voting
Location-based
Services
Caller Ring Back Tone
(CRBT)

References
http://www.aws.cit.ie/personnel/dpesch/notes/msc_sw/ss7_pr
otocol_overview.pdf
http://www.techfest.com/networking/wan/ss7.htm
http://www.mobilein.com/ss7.htm
http://www.telecomspace.com/ss7.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signalling_System_No._7
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/tel_pswt/vc
o_prod/ss7_fund/
althosbooks.com/sisy7sba3rde.html